Why Bill Gates Thinks Raising Chickens Would Solve a Huge Problem

If Bill Gates lost $76 billion, which would make him close to penniless, what would he do?

Raise chickens, that’s what.

In a new blog post, the Microsoft (msft) co-founder and philanthropist writes that raising chickens is probably the easiest and cheapest way to make money as well as to assure a food supply if you are poor and have access to land.

Clearly, he’s done the research. First, chickens are relatively cheap to maintain. Some breeds can live off what they eat off the ground, he explains, although augmenting that is probably a good idea. As for shelter, hens need just a rudimentary structure to protect their nests and eggs.

Farmers who start with five hens and borrow a neighbor’s rooster to fertilize them can end up with 40 chicks within approximately three months, or a quarter of the year. In West Africa, those chicks can sell for $5 each. Thus, farmers could earn as much as $200 per quarter, or $1,000 per year, in income. That’s not much, but it’s a step up from the extreme poverty line of $700 a year, Gates wrote.

Additionally, eggs are also a protein-rich food source.

For more on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, watch:

Finally, because chickens tend to stick close to home, a parent caring for his or her children at home can also tend the flock.

Gates also offered a way to help. If you read the blog post, watch the video, and answer a question, Gates will donate—on your behalf—a flock of chickens to a poor family. The poultry logistics will be handled by Heifer International, a non-profit group dedicated to providing livestock and training to impoverished people around the world.